Rail-fastener



E. L. KNIGHT.

RAIL FASTENEH. l APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1920. RENEWED OCT. 16,1920.

mammal). 1,1921.

UNITED STATES VLLSW'ORTH L. KNIGHT, 0F PRINCETON, WEST VIRGINIA.`

"` RAITLLFAST'ENEB.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

PatentedFeb. 1, 1921.

Application lerl January 13, 1920, Serial No. 351,136. Renewed October16, 1920. Serial No. 417,531.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ELLswon'rH L. liNrGr-rr, acitizen of the United States, residing at and btate of lNest Virginia,have invented new and useful Improvements in RailFasteners, of which thefollowing is a specification. i

This invention relates to means for fastening rails to the ties and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide releasable means wherebythe rail may be easily and quickly clamped to the tie.

This invention also consists in certain other-features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure lis a plan view showing a portion of a rail and tie with my invention inuse.

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the holding means in inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with a part broken away to show the lockingrecess.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section.

In these views l indicates the metal tie and 2 the rail. This tie has apair of loops f 3 formed adjacent each end thereof by slotting the metaland punching the metal between the slots upwardly to form transverseloops. Each pair of these loops are spaced apart a sufficient distanceto receive the rail betweenv them.

The rail holding means comprises a pair of T-shaped shafts 4 which areheld in said loops so as to have rocking movement on the tie. After theshaft is placed through the loop its end is bent at right angles as at 5so that this end and one part of the T-head will engage the base of therail when the shaft is in holding position. The other part of the headis adapted to engage a recess 6 formed in the tie adjacent the edgethereof. As will be seen the head of the T-shaft is slightly bent sothat as one part is engaging the base of the rail the other part is heldin the recess and the two engaging parts of the shaft Princeton, in thecounty of Mercer y will clamp the rail due to the spring action of themetal shaft. I prefer to run the shafts through the loops in oppositedirections so that the head of one shaft will be opposite the bent endof the other shaft, as shown in the drawings.

Before the rail is placed in position the shafts are moved outwardly sothat their heads are beyond the edges of the tie andthe shafts rocked tothrow their engaging parts away from the space to be occupied by therail. This will permit the rail to be placed between the loops upon thetie and then the two shafts are rocked until their engaging parts engagethe base of the rail. Then each shaft is struck by a hammer to move itlongitudinally until a part of its head is driven into the recess. Thespringy nature of the material will permit the head to give slightly topass over the rim of the recess and into the same.

Thus the rail is firmly clamped to the tie and it may be removed byhammering the shafts in the opposite directions so that they may beturned to release the rail.

My invention is mainly designed for use in mines, though of course itwill be under stood that I do not wish to be limited in this respect.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall withmg the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is l. Means for fastening a rail to its tie com- 1prising arock shaft carried by the tie and aving portions for engaging the baseof the rail and means for locking said shaft in operative position.

2. Means for fastening a rail to its tie comprising a pair of rockshafts carried by the tie and having portions for engaging the base ofthe rail and means for locking said shafts in operative position.

3. Means for locking a rail to its tie comprising a pair of loops formedadjacent each end of the tie, and spaced apart to receive the railbetween them, a pair of shafts mounted in said loops and havingright-angularly extending portions engaging the base of lieiail andanother portion frictionally lengaging the tie for locking the shaftsinoperative position.

, 4f. Means for locking a rail to its tie coinprising a pair of loopsformed on the tie adjacent each end thereof, a T-shaped Shaft carried byeach loop and longitudinally movable therein, each shaft having its endbent n right-angles and this end und one part or the 'Em-head engagingthe rail buse 10 and a recess in the tie for receiving the other porifonof the head.

n testimonyT whereof I aix my signature.

ELLSVORTH L. KNIGHT.

